Zoological Society. 493 



properties, but so does the white corpusele of the human blood whieh 

 is an indubitable cell. 



2. It is interesting to observe that the similarity of the " columnar 

 bodies" of the Rhabdocoela to the "thread-cells" of the Medusae, 

 Polypes, &c. is only superficial, and that therefore the value of the 

 existence of the latter bodies, as a character, is not weakened. 



We believe it to be very probable that further investigation will 

 show that the existence of " thread-cells " in Eolis is only accidental, 

 and that the genuine " thread-cell " is as characteristic of the Polypes 

 and Acaleplue as the mammse of the Mammifera. 



3. In all probability, to this list of animals containing chlorophyll 

 should be added Sponyilla jiuriatilis. Its occurrence in so highly 

 organized animals as the Turbcllaria is however very interesting, and 

 removes one more of the supposed distinctions between plants and 

 animals. 



5. To this catalogue of organs of sense, we believe that the ciliated 

 pits of the Nemertidse might be added as either gustatory or olfactory 

 organs ; such ciliated pits in connection with the nervous centres, and 

 very probably subserving one or other of these functions, are found 

 in Amphioxus, the Tunicata, and the Rotifera. 



7. The existence of chitin in the Turbellaria, in Clepsine, Nephelis 

 (which confirms Grube's statement that it is found in the Annelida), 

 and the Hydroid Polypes (to which, according to Grube, we must add 

 the Nematoid worms), is a fact of great value, as its presence has been 

 regarded as characteristic of the Arthropoda. 



Finally, the demonstration with which Dr. Schulze furnishes us of 

 the true* structure of the Nemertidse, gives a new proof, if any were 

 wanted, of the extreme value of the microscope, as a means of check- 

 ing the results of dissection among the Invertebrata. More would be 

 done for the true knowledge of the structure of the Nematoid worms 

 by the lucky discovery and careful examination of some very trans- 

 parent species, than all the labours of the knife and forceps have 

 hitherto effected . 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



July 9, 1850.— John Gould, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. 



Description of five new species of Anodont^e, collected 

 by II. Cuming, Esq. in the East Indies. ByIsaac Lea. 



Anodonta gracilis. A. testa latd, subcylindraced, incequila- 

 terali ; valvulis tenuibus ; natibus subprominentibus ; epider- 

 mide luted; maryaritd re! alba vel purpurea. 

 Hab. Dingle, Isle of Panay. 

 Diam. 1 ; length 1*7; breadth [\A inches. 



Remarks. — This species is more cylindrical than is usual with the 

 Anodontce, and differs from the other species taken by Mr. Cuming 



